History

It Was Hot In 1931

Leave a comment
Susanville, circa 1936

It has been toasty warm around these parts in July. It should be noted the summer of 1931 was of Susanville’s hottest and driest on record. A heat wave lasted nearly two months, with little respite. In July and August, only eight times did the high temperature dip below 90. In July there were nine consecutive days when the high was over 100. On July 19 and 20 was it ever hot, both days registered 106. It was also dry. On June 16th .03 inches of precipitation fell. Not another raindrop fell on the town for the next four months, until October 17th when .30 inches was recorded.

In cae you were wondering the first week of July 1876, incidentally witnessed Susanville’s hottest ever recorded temperature–108 degrees–and it was reached on three different days.

Tim

News

Tuesday Tidbit Update

Leave a comment
Ash Valley School
Ash Valley School, as viewed from the cemetery, 2002.

For your summer time treat, starting next Tuesday, July 30 through mid-September there will be Tuesday Tidbit post. One can thank Mother Nature and the heat wave for that. This has not been ideal conditions for outdoor explorations.

Tim

History

Susanville’s Fruit Growers Townsite

Leave a comment
A family residential section of Fruit Growers, 1921—Ed Standard

In 1919, when Fruit Growers Supply Company planned to build a mill at Susanville, they saw many benefits. Instead of the situation they had at Hilt, a company town they inherited.  They felt confident that Susanville entrepreneurs would fill void, especially when it came it to housing. Nothing went according to plan. First of all, Fruit Growers hired 1500 men, the majority with families, which that figure was larger than the population of Susanville.

Fruit Growers dormitories, 1921–Ed Standard

Fruit Growers had to go plan B and build affordable housing for its employees. A residential district, Fruit Growers Townsite was laid out to the west of the plant. Half the townsite contained 80 cottages, the other half dormitories and apartments. It cost Fruit Growers $245,000 to build the housing project. While Fruit Growers is gone today, many of these buildings remain. Another item are the street names, a legacy of the state’s citrus landscape—Sunkist, Monrovia, Upland, Orange, Limoneira to name a few.

Subscribe

 

 

 

History

Logging Camp Remnants

1 Comment
Camp B. Courtesy of Fruit Growers Supply Company

This is first part of a three part series examining logging camp remnants. Today, we will focus on Fruit Growers Camp B and C. These camps operated during the early to mid-1920s in the Martin Springs vicinity, north and east of McCoy Flat Reservoir. Both were substantial camps comprising some 250 men. Camp C boasted a boxing arena that seated 500 people!

Camp C, no date. Courtesyof Lenala Martin Collection

Today, there is plenty of remnants at Camp B. Among those are the concrete foundations of the commissary and cookhouse. Though it’s been some time since I last visited. the railroad service pits were somewhat in tact. There is scattered debris in the area, and I even found an old pocket watch.  Camp C is just the opposite. Without any remnants or any other tell tale signs it is difficult to locate. Why the difference? Camp B is located on land owned by Fruit Growers. Camp C was on land owned by the forest service, the latter required the site to be cleaned up after no longer in use.

Next up the examination of the Harvey line that had four camps–Bunyan, Puls Harvey and Stanford.

To Support, Please Donate or Subscribe

History

Lassen County Fair Logging Competitions of the Past

1 Comment
Red River Lumber Company’s entry

When the Lassen County Fair was revived, in 1922, it would go through  and still does evolves. Take for instance, logging competitions for decades it was a main stay attraction, but not any more.

In 1923, the first logging exhibition at the Lassen County Fair was held. After all there were three large sawmill operations—Fruit Growers Supply Company, Lassen Lumber & Box Company and Red River Lumber Company. It was certainly a noteworthy event. For many attendees it was the first time they were able to witness the current logging methods of the “big wheels.”  A competition was held between the big three companies. The Fruit Growers Supply Company won top honors in this category. It should be noted by 1927, the lumber companies began phasing out the “big wheels” for the motorized Caterpillar traction engines.

Lassen Lumber & Box Company’s entry.

Tim

History

A New Masonic Lodge

Leave a comment
The Masonic Temple under construction, October, 1924.

Like the proverbial phoenix rising above the ashes, Lassen Lodge F.&AM lost their lodge in a fire in 1921. On July 19,1924 the Masons awarded a contract for a new lodge with T.J. Reese of Fallon, Nevada. The cost $35,500 for the two-story native stone building. The Roman Doric design was the work of local architect, Ralph D. Taylor.  On August 21, a cornerstone ceremony was held. The contract stipulated a completion date no later than January 1, 1925. It should be noted that this was the last major native stone building constructed in Susanville

Tim.

News

Benjamin Pollard Story Update

Leave a comment
Grave of Benjamin Pollard, VFW Section, Lassen Cemetery, March 16, 2024

For those just tuning you can read about the Benjamin Pollard story that was posted earlier this year  here.

Mark Hakvoort of Hollands Kroon, in the Netherlands in their quest to honor and  to remember the aircraft and crews perished there during World War II contacted me about Pollard. You can learn more from their website here 

One of those who perished was Benjamin Pollard, whose body would eventually be brought back to the United States and buried in the Lassen Cemetery, Susanville. It was Mr. Hakvoort’s goal to locate descendants. Since that initial post we have been able to locate numerous family. Pollard has a niece who resides in France. On October 5th they will be holding remembrance ceremony for Pollard in the Netherlands and his niece plans to attend. I was thrilled that a connection could be made.

Tim

History

Lassen County’s Old Timers Fair Event

1 Comment
Lassen County Fair, 1922. Courtesy of Lola L. Tanner

Since this is Lassen County Fair Week, one of the oldest events was to honor the area’s Old Timers. At the 1924 fair the Nataqua Parlor of the Native Daughters of the Golden West initiated this special feature. Of course, this event has evolved over the years.

On the evening of Sunday, September 14, the last day of the fair,  Native Daughters sponsored a banquet for the hearty pioneers at the Antlers (nee Elks) Club. To be considered an “old timer” the requirement was one you had to resided in the area prior to 1866. Thirty-seven old timers attended. It should be noted that in years past Native Daughters sponsored an old timers dinner on California’s Admission Day, September 9.

Tim

News

Ask Tim

1 Comment
Flanigan—Robert M. Hanft

On a quarterly basis, I ask you the reader, if there is something you would like to learn more about or maybe its something you heard, but question its validity. So here is an opportunity to participate. I will do my best to answer any questions. It should be noted, it may take awhile for the answer to appear as a post. The primary reason, many of the daily posts are done nearly a month in advance. So by the time you read this I am already working on posts for the middle of August, or at least I should be. Whatever the case may be, I look forward to hearing from you. Of course, it should be noted that paid subscribers requests receive priority. In addition, you can always send a request at any time.

Tim

History, News

Another Pricey Auction Item

Leave a comment
The Emerson Hotel located at Main & Lassen Streets, the current site of the Hotel Mt. Lassen. Completed in 1901, destroyed by fire in1915.

If you thought $540 for the Lassen County Farm Bureau cookbook was tad expensive, well I was recently alerted about another much more pricey one. The latest involves Emerson family memorabilia, specifically that of May Spencer Emerson (1867-1955). The package includes a woman’s dress, necklace, purse and two historic invitations. One of those invites is for the 1901 dedication of the Emerson Hotel. Asking price $900.

Other people are involved in hopes to purchase said items for the Lassen Museum. This is one of those instances I go into a retreat mode, it has all the features of a sticky wicket drama–something I avoid.

Tim

Exploring Lassen County's Past